Program Information

Overview

The Canadian Parks and Recreation Association (CPRA) has secured Government of Canada funding via Employment and Social Development Canada to support a “green jobs” program for youth. Officially entitled the Summer Work Experience Green Jobs Initiative, the Program will provide direct financial support (via wage subsidies) to municipalities, Indigenous communities and other sector organizations, allowing them to offer new summer job positions that focus on green career-related activities.

The goals of the Green Jobs Initiative are to:

Create meaningful job experiences for youth

Build a generation of youth that will value nature close to home and potentially pursue an opportunity to build a career in the green job sector

Generate much needed support to municipalities, Indigenous communities and other sector organizations to hire additional youth to advance their green priorities

The Green Jobs Initiative is expected to reach both high school and post-secondary school youth that reside in various settings; rural; remote; urban; and Indigenous communities. Of note, efforts will also be taken to ensure the Program reaches youth at risk, youth with disabilities, visible and language minorities, new Canadians and Indigenous youth.

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+Definitions

Applications must focus on the development of new green jobs for youth. In this context, the following definitions should be adhered to:

A job is considered ‘New’ if the position has been created for the Summer 2019 and is not a continuation of a current position

‘Youth’ is defined as those being 15-30 years of age. Youth must have been registered as full time students in the previous academic year, and intend to return to school on a full time basis in the next academic year

+Funding

On behalf of the Government of Canada, the CPRA will administer wage subsidies (up to 50%) to create 1,200 Green Jobs for youth.

Approximate distribution of jobs will be as follows:

600 jobs in Summer 2018

100 jobs in Fall 2018/Winter 2019

500 jobs in Summer 2019.

The maximum wage subsidy offered through this program is $5,712.00 for each youth/job.

While employers are welcome to set their own wages, the Program contribution must be matched by the employer. Matching funds cannot be from another federal government funding program.

Only one application per organization is allowed, however each application may include requests for multiple summer green jobs. CPRA reserves the right to fund fewer jobs than the number requested based on budget constraints.

+Work Term

The first eligible date of work is April 1, 2019.
The last eligible date of work is August 30, 2019.

Work terms can be variable, lasting between 4-16 weeks in duration.

+Allowable Costs

Wage subsidies will be capped at $5,712.00 for each youth/job, a contribution that will be matched by the organization employer. The following expenditures are eligible for funding and included in this amount:

Salary support

Mandatory Employment Related Costs (MERCs) – Employers are required by law to pay the MERCs for their employees. These costs include Employment Insurance premiums, Canada or Quebec Pension Plan contributions, vacation pay, Workers’ Compensation premiums or equivalent liability insurance (if applicable), health insurance and parental insurance premiums in Quebec and Ontario, the Health and Post-Secondary Education Tax in Newfoundland and Labrador, and the Health and Education Levy in Manitoba.

Additional support may be available on a case by case basis for disability support, dependent support (ex. childcare), and transportation accommodations (more than 150km from residence to job location).

Note that it is strictly prohibited for salaries to be matched with any other federal government funding.

+Important Dates

Summer 2018 Jobs (600)CLOSED FOR APPLICATIONS

Fall 2018 / Winter 2019 Jobs (100)CLOSED FOR APPLICATIONS

Summer 2019 Jobs (500)Applications Due
February 22, 2019

+Eligibility

Applicants:

Canadian municipalities, Indigenous communities and other sector organizations are eligible to apply to this Program.

Other sector organizations include:

Not for Profit Environment Organizations

Environmental Science Centers

Conservation Organizations

Museums

Education Institutions

Community NGOs

Provincial NGOs

Park Authorities

Villages/Towns

Youth Agencies

Regional Districts

Only one application per eligible organization is allowed but applications may include requests for multiple jobs

Employees (hired youth):

In order to be eligible for this program, hired youth must:

Be between the ages of 15 and 30 (inclusive)

Be a Canadian citizen, permanent resident or protected person as defined by the immigration and Refugee Protection Act

Be legally entitled to work in Canada

Be legally entitled to work according to any provincial/territorial legislation and regulations

Have been registered as a full-time student in the previous academic year and intend to return to school on a full-time basis in the next academic year

+Official Languages

CPRA encourages applicants to submit proposals in English or French and commits to ensuring high quality review of applications submitted in either official language.

+Conditions of Funding

Successful candidates must:

Confirm their use of funding within five (5) working days of the date of offer or the offer will be withdrawn

Confirm that they have not already received any federal funding to support the jobs described in their application

Confirm that hired youth will be between the ages of 15-30 and meet student eligibility criteria

Confirm that all positions included in the application will be new

+Reporting

Successful candidates must submit the following documents according to the schedule below:

Signed contract with CPRA: within two weeks (14 days) of receipt from your Regional Manager

Student Declaration Form (EMP5623): within 5 days from the date of hire

Final Activity Report and Claim Form: within 30 days from end of work term

Per Government of Canada requirements, successful applicants will be required to complete a Final Activity Report and Claim Form. This will include a report from the employer and from each youth employee supported by the Initiative.

Failure to submit the Final Activity Report will render the organization ineligible for future funding through the CPRA’s Green Jobs Initiative.

+Communication Requirements

Successful applicants must acknowledge the CPRA and the Government of Canada (Employment and Social Development Canada) financial support in any communications.

+Review Process

The CPRA will assemble a Green Jobs Initiative Adjudication Team to adjudicate the applications.

+Evaluation Criteria

The priority areas for adjudication are:

Demonstration that the applicant has the necessary funding to support this 50/50 financial partnership

Demonstration that efforts will be taken to reach youth at risk, disabled youth, visible and language minorities, new Canadians and Indigenous youth

Demonstration that the jobs to be created align with the Green Jobs Initiative goals to:

Create meaningful job experiences for youth

Build a generation of youth that will value nature close to home and potentially pursue an opportunity to build a career in the green job sector

Generate much needed support to municipalities, Indigenous communities and other sector organizations to hire additional youth to advance their green priorities

Additionally, applicants must:

Confirm that they have not already received any federal funding to support the jobs described in their application

Confirm that they will comply with reporting and follow-up evaluation requirements

Confirm that hired youth will be between the ages of 15-30 and will be returning to school after the work term

Confirm that all positions included in the application will be new

+Funding Decision

All applicants will be notified by CPRA of their funding decision. Notices of Decision for Summer 2019 work terms will be sent no later than March 22, 2019.

+Partners

CPRA

The Canadian Parks and Recreation Association (CPRA) is a national organization dedicated to realizing the full potential of parks and recreation as a major contributor to community health and vibrancy. Membership includes the 13 provincial and territorial parks and recreation associations and their extensive networks of service providers in over 90% of Canadian communities. CPRA collaborates with a host of other national organizations operating in the recreation, physical activity, environmental, facilities, sport, public health, crime prevention and social services arenas. Over the course of its 60-year history, CPRA has become a credible and strong national leader in our sector. In addition to our advocacy on the benefits of parks and recreation, we provide our members with the information, resources and the professional development they can use to make a difference in their own community. Through broad-based community involvement, we find solutions to social challenges, influence policy direction and generate momentum towards community quality of life.

Government of Canada

This CPRA effort is part of the overall Government of Canada commitment (as led by Employment and Social Development Canada) outlined in the 2017 Federal Budget that committed to creating 15,000 new ‘green’ jobs for young Canadians. Funding for this program is provided by Employment and Social Development Canada.

Funded in part by the Government of Canada's Summer Work Experience program